IMG Intercollegiate Forum: Big 12's Dan Beebe Sits For One-On-One

Beebe Says He Has Not Seen A Proposal For College Football Playoff That Big 12 Supports

Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe gave a strong show of support for the current, embattled BCS system during a one-on-one interview at the SBJ/SBD IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum yesterday afternoon. Beebe, like other advocates of the current system, invoked potential impacts upon the current bowl system and individual student-athletes, and the integrity of the college football regular season. "I don't think the bowls could exist alongside a playoff system, and would go out of business," Beebe said. "And I have not seen a playoff proposal that the Big 12 would support." Beebe, however, did acknowledge the need for college sports administrators to do a better job telling the BCS story and explaining its advantages, an effort that heightened recently with the hiring of consultant and former White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer. "We have not done a good job with this, but now with Ari, we are getting more proactive." Meanwhile, Beebe was dubious on the likelihood or merits of expanding the men's college basketball tournament to 96 teams. "I do think that presents some challenges."

FACING OTHER ISSUES: Asked about the expanding gulf in economic might between schools in the Big 12, highlighted in part by Baylor's football budget representing barely a third of the Univ. of Texas', Beebe said, "That's more of a local effort. There are things we at the conference can do to help (bridge the gap) in terms of TV, events such as our championships, sponsorships, but that's more an issue we're addressing locally." Meanwhile, Beebe advocated his desire to see some type of licensing structure for professional journalists, in part so their blogs and social media posts can be easily discerned from individual fans. "We need to distinguish the working journalist, the person that's supposed to be an expert, from the guy in the pizza shop." Beebe gave no specific clues about what direction the conference will take in its next large-scale media deal, but said he would be able to handle the long-term public relations battle the Big Ten underwent to get their own channel launched. "We could take on that kind of challenge if that's the direction we choose to go."

WHO'S GOT NEXT? Beebe, like others throughout the day yesterday, said the selection of the next NCAA President was the story he was most actively following, and predicted the person will be another university president, as was the late Myles Brand. Beebe joked the person to get the job would be "somebody crazy enough to take the job." But speaking seriously, he added, "I think it will be another (university) president. I think they're going to want somebody again that's been connected to the educational mission."